Gremir P-61 Black Widow

**modelperry** · #1 06-15-2015, 06:40 AM

Before I started my armoured train In had a simple poll going in facebook and this model got quite a few votes, so its up next. I think it is the same one as is published in book form by Answer.

It is designed by Rafal Ciesielski, one of my favorite aircraft designers.

My intention is to build it as the "Lady in the Dark" but will probably form some parts from the "times a wastin'" for practice, especially the nose which is made from those evil pedal things

.

Anyway, here are some shots of the basic fuselage structure and start of the front cockpit. So far fit is good, I hope this bodes well for the majority of the build.

greg

**MacSongLi** · #2 06-15-2015, 07:22 AM

Nice work Greg, the cockpit appears to have a lot of details. Good luck with the nose!

Gary

**Longbow** · #3 06-15-2015, 08:04 AM

Hi Greg,
The Black Widow is on my build list too.
My father saved some of the crew during WW2 from a plane which crashed nearby (in occupied country). Still have some 'souvenirs' my father left... He never told much though.

These petals are difficult for sure !

Will follow your build !
Thanks for sharing

**Don Boose** · #4 06-15-2015, 11:03 AM

I saw this on your workspace at USAHEC last month, Greg, and the initial work looked very good indeed.

I have had both the GreMir P-61s for years (won one in the Old Troll contest) and very much hope to build one some day. I will be watching carefully.

Don

**modelperry** · #5 06-16-2015, 06:19 AM

Some more progress on the forward cockpit. That hump in the middle is the access/egress hatch. It was a bit fiddly and required quite a bit of massaging (especially to the parts that form the inside surfaces) to fit. It appears that the hole in the cockpit floor is not large enough at the front and needs to be trimmed about 1 mm for proper fit of the hatch.

The control stick was relatively straight forward, but I had to trim the ends of the cross bar to fit properly across the cockpit.

greg

**modelperry** · #6 06-17-2015, 06:02 AM

Today's feature is the instrument panel, "tanks" and installation of same.

Instrument panel fit was good with no major issues. The lever handles were not all the same color but the references I found had them all as red, so they got painted with Vallejo's red.

The extinguisher and tank assembled up ok. the petals were shaped with a circle template (petals bent by inserting into ever decreasing circle template holes until closed).

In the last picture you can see two diagonal gauge clusters on the top of the right cockpit wall (left side in the picture). I am making a guess as to their location as there are no mention of them in the instructions or diagrams. Two diagonal white marks are evident on the top of the wall so I just put two and two together.

greg

**KCStephens** · #7 06-17-2015, 06:21 AM

She's really looking good Greg. Great job on those pesky petals.

**MacSongLi** · #8 06-17-2015, 09:04 AM

Greg,

Very nice work on the cockpit. The yoke looks fantastic, and a lot of detailing on the instrument panel.

Gary

**eatcrow2** · #9 06-17-2015, 03:08 PM

Beautiful!! A real pleasure to follow along..

**Isaac** · #10 06-17-2015, 07:59 PM

For the petal nose, I suggest placing putty on the inside, then when dry, sand it over the paper petals smoothly and then repaint it all black.

some pics from my GPM A-7 Corsair 2 nose. Similar technique

Don't forget to add enough nose weight or it will be a tail seater

lastly, do not skimp on a clear canopy ( front and back ). Vacuform it or purchase a set.

Have fun with this big bird.

Isaac